Rural Reading: Dragonflies and damselflies catch my eye

Anywhere wet is still green and still full of flowers – if you want a bit of colour then head for the river

Now that summer is properly here, the countryside starts to ripen for the harvest in the sun.

Lots of the fields take on a roasted feel, which is very unusual as in recent summers they have been decidedly damp.

The greens slowly drain from the land, except for the woodlands, where it won’t happen until autumn, and the watersides.

Anywhere wet is still green and still full of flowers – if you want a bit of colour then head for the river.

It has been so hot that before I take the dogs for a walk I head for the river and let them go swimming.

Once they are wet through they can enjoy an hour or so walking before the heat gets to them.

I usually go to the canal. The vegetation here is lush, full of figwort and dropwort, tall rushes and sedges, and, in the margins, some water lilies.

As the dogs bathe, paddle and drink I potter about looking at the life in the margins.

At this time of year it is the dragonflies and damselflies that catch my eye.

There haven’t been many dragonflies, but there have been loads of damselflies, and one, the beautiful demoiselle, is possibly one of the most amazing creatures to be found along the water’s edge.

These are emerald green, metallic and iridescent.

Early in the morning one freshly emerged from its nymph stage, having crawled up a stem from the river bed. That it should emerge from something so unlovely is a remarkable feat.

They are not too bothered by people, although they do fly up when the dogs jump in.

Patiently walking along the river, with the sun behind you should provide with some stunning views.

I have a little pair of binoculars that allow me to focus on them close up.

As soon as I do this I notice several other things among the foliage. There are always lots of flies, beetles and bees to watch. There are even other damselflies, the common blue one, often in huge numbers.

But it doesn’t matter – every time I spot the beautiful damselfy I am transfixed by the extravagance of it’s jewel-like construction.

The countryside might be roasting under the sun, but the real beauty is along the canal.